At IWC, environmental protection and awareness are leading priorities in our day-to-day business. A perfect example of this, among other things, is our use of resources, including energy, water, paper and packaging. We actively manage our energy consumption to ensure the efficient use of resources. To reduce our footprint, we use renewable energy sources to meet 100 per cent of our headquarters’ electricity needs, including the generation of nearly 300 MWh annually from solar photovoltaic installations at IWC premises in the Kanton of Schaffhausen. Remaining carbon emissions are offset. On top of this, we use groundwater as a heat source and reuse waste and rainwater as alternative water sources. Our efficient use of paper and packaging products guides innovation in this area, as does our reliance on sustainably sourced products.

CARBON EMISSIONS

Apart from making carbon reduction an integral part of any construction, reconstruction and modernization work on our facilities, IWC Schaffhausen meets or exceeds local environmental requirements and ensures that projects are as ecologically sound as possible.

To reduce carbon emissions resulting from business operations, we have implemented:

heat recovery in the ventilation system and air compressors;

heat production via heating pumps;

use of renewable energy from hydroelectric power produced in Switzerland;

For emissions that cannot be eliminated, IWC purchases voluntary carbon reduction credits to support environmental projects in developing and emerging countries. Thanks to this commitment, IWC is regarded as a pioneer in the industry and has held certified CO2-neutral status since 2007.

We also encourage our employees to reduce their own carbon footprints by offering financial incentives to use public transport and buy low-emission vehicles.

WATER USAGE

Wherever possible, IWC uses rainwater rather than mains water and makes the most of ground- and wastewater as alternative sources of energy. Rainwater is captured in retention reservoirs and used in sanitary installations, saving 255,000 litres of valuable drinking water every year, while the energy recovered from ground- and wastewater generates more than 1 GWh of energy every year. This amounts to almost a quarter of all the energy consumed at our facilities in Schaffhausen and Neuhausen.

LESS PLASTIC

IWC eliminates the use of plastic wherever possible in order to protect the environment. For years, we have sought innovative ways of avoiding plastic waste and finding suitable alternative materials. Plastic containers used for storing parts have been replaced with receptacles made of other materials, and the plastic content of packaging film has been drastically reduced.

To achieve this objective, we need the help and cooperation of our employees. In early 2015, we launched a wide-ranging campaign to raise staff awareness and reduce the use of non-recyclable containers. To get the initiative under way, we gave all our employees a beverage set comprising a glass drinks bottle and a china cup, both of which are 100% recyclable.